Past Pain, Future Vengance

Let me just start by saying: thank you all for your wonderful reviews. I am aware that it is a little slow in starting but I need to get all the introduction crap out of the way so the story is more understandable and enjoyable. I'm going to try to update about every other day, but if I don't, don't worry. I don't abandon my fics.

In answer to a question I received: this will be a SesshomaruxInuyasha paring. Of course, we have to go through all the steps before we get to the yaoi goodness. Once again, if you don't like it, don't read it.

That all being said, on with the story!


Oh and by the way, the stuff in between the X's is what is showing in the portal.


Chapter 2


The Keeper


" What is that thing exactly?" Sango questioned as she inspected the strange object closely. It was medium in size, white in color around the border and a glassy clear in the center. None of her friends had ever seen anything like it either.

Totosai had invited them all to his home promising to show them what they wanted to know, after a few threats from Inuyasha. When they arrived Totosai directed them to the back of his cave where he kept many random trinkets ranging from swords once belonging to great demons and humans alike, to ancient scrolls.

' I don't know how he lives like this.' Thought Kagome, stepping over yet another pile of dirty rusty who-knows-what on the dirt floor while making her way to her friends.


" That, young lady, is my newest treasure." He moved closer to the thing and stroked it lovingly, admiring the fine craftsmanship and care that so obviously when into carving the stone. " It's a portal, it lets you look at any being on earth and if you know how to use it correctly, it even lets you look at past assurances." The old man smiled then, moving to the side to let everyone get a clear view of the portals center. The on lookers gasped as the glassy surface began to swirl with a green mist before a scene appeared.


XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX


A huge castle appeared, it clearly had many inhabitants. Servants bustled about doing variuos chores while some children played off to the side in a flowery courtyard.

The heavy wooden doors opened and out stepped a rather tall man with a beautiful and clearly human woman walking slightly behind him carrying a child of about three of four years of age, lovingly in her arms and smiling gently.


XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX


" Do you recognize them Inuyasha?" Totosai asked, when he got a puzzled look from the hanyou he continued. " They are your parents."


Inuyasha stared in awe trying to ingrain every detail of the two adults into his memory. His father looked so strong, proud, and confident. While his mother looked so kind, gentle , and content holding the child, who he figured was himself, in her arms.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX


A somewhat lanky man ran up to Inutaisho and bowed low before his lord and lady.


" Lord Inutaisho! I have very important information!" The messenger glanced up at the demon lord's face waiting for permission to continue. When he saw Inutaisho nod he went on." I was on my way to a border village to retrieve the new garments for you but when I arrived all the villagers were gathered in the streets, many of them were crying and calling out, men and women alike. When I asked what was the matter the head master told me some very disturbing news. He told me that the Keeper had past through and took two of the village children."


Inutaisho remained impassive on the outside but on the inside he was feuding with himself over what to do. He had heard of the Keeper many times before. His sources told him that the Keeper had gotten his title from his tendencies to snatch up young children and take them back to who-knows-where, none of the families ever saw their taken offspring again. Except of course on the Keepers patrol for new victims, he would always be fallowed by those previously taken who were attached to him by thick metal collars around their necks and heavy chains locked onto his armor. Some had tried to free the children but all failed, men and women, human and demon alike. It was rumored among many that the Keeper would take the children and do horrible, unspeakable things to them. Whenever someone or something stood in his way he would be sure to leave a bloody trail behind him.


Inutaisho thanked the messenger for the warning and took his family back inside. Leaving his mate and son in the dining room he went up to his study and stood outside the door. He could feel the aura behind the door and knew that he had assumed right. He smiled softly to himself. ' So predictable.' He opened the door, quietly entering.


On his desk In the back of the room he saw at least four stacks of books, and upon further inspection he spotted the top of a silver head almost completely hidden behind them. Stepping up in front of the large wooden table Inutaisho moved one of the books.


The silver haired boy, about six or seven years, looked up and smiled a small childish smile. He glanced back down at his book, then back up at his father waiting to be addressed or given permission to speak.


Inutaisho sighed. " Tell me Sesshomaru, why is it that you are always in here making a mess of things?" He asked, his eyes roaming slowly over the many stacks of books and papers with various scribblings about one thing or another covering the desk. He smiled softly when his son looked around at the chaos he had created then back to him with an apologetic look on his face.


" I'm sorry father, I suppose I got a little carried away this time....and last time...and the time before that, and the-" Sesshomaru was cut off when his father raised his hand. He knew that if there was one thing about himself that his father disapproved of, it was his organizing issues. His father always lectured him, saying, " How are you going to run these lands if you can't even find your own clothes?" or " I really wish you would put things back where you found them, I can't find anything." Sesshomaru didn't argue with his father when ever the subject of his not being able to find anything came up, he simply pointed out that he could find everything just fine, it was everyone else that had a problem.

Inutaisho's face took on a serious look suddenly as he approached his son on the other side of his desk. He leaned down and spoke in a hushed voice.


" Sesshomaru, it has recently come to my attention that there may be a great danger headed this way." Inutaisho watched his son closely for a negative reaction. It's very important that a leader stay calm in any situation. However, he became puzzled when his son's eyes brightened. " What is the matter Sesshomaru, why do you react so? Why do you seem so happy and excited to hear of this pearl?"


" It's just that this will be the first time I get to see you actually do battle. I'm not worried, no one can defeat you father!" Sesshomaru beamed, his eyes shining with admiration as he looked at his father's face. He couldn't wait to see how his father faught so he could absorb any and all information that he could. One day he hoped to surpass his father in battle.


Inutaisho looked at his son and felt a heavy weight on his heart. He didn't want to let his son down, he wanted to set a good, strong example for him to fallow, but he had to do what was the safest and ultimately best for all of his family.


" Sesshomaru, I am going to send you and your brother away for awhile so you can be safe."

Sesshomaru's smile faded in to a look of disbelief.


" What? I don't understand father! How am I supposed to get stronger when you never train me?" Sesshomaru rose from his seat, rarely did he question his fathers will but, this just didn't make sense. " Your always busy with that human of yours! The one time I get a chance to learn something from you, you send me away?! The only thing that you've showed me how to do lately is how to lose my heart to a worthless human girl who will only die off in a couple ye-"


Sesshomaru's rant was cut short by a hard backhand to the right side of his face.


Inutaisho stared hard down at his son, how dare he speak about his mate like that. He had to do something before the boy said something he would truly regret.


Sesshomaru stood in the middle of the floor ,where he had stalked to in his frustration, a small string of blood running from his mouth down his chin and onto the floor, the force of the blow making one of his small but deadly sharp fangs cut deeply into his bottom lip. He stood for a brief moment, staring at his father, not understanding his logic, before turning on his heal and leaving for the lower floors of the castle.

BANG!

" Inutaisho!"

BANG!

" Inutaisho, lord of the west!"

BANG!


Inutaisho ran down to the ground floor and out the wooden double doors, joining his wife carrying Inuyasha and just about every other person in the castle who were out to see who was causing all the fuss. Inutaisho stopped dead in his tracks at what he saw. The messenger had taken many days to reach the castle. Here standing before Inutaisho was the Keeper.
A tall man, so much so that he surpassed even the great Inutaisho himself by at least three inches, long black hair, deep purple markings going in a jagged patter over vertically his eyes, wide shoulders, made to look larger with the heavy black and gold armor covering much of his body. Then there was the last detail that proved many of the rumors to be true, behind him stood three young girls, all very thin, with no shoes of any kind, and barely clothed at all.
Inutaisho looked them over but when he looked into their eyes, saw the sadness and fear, he turned back to the man in front of him.


" Keeper, what do you want?" Inutaisho asked sternly, holding his ground.


The Keeper gave a very unsettling smile.


." I have come for Inuyasha, your son."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX


Sorry for the wait, I've been busy. Please review and tell me what you all think!

Later!